A DATE has finally been given for the re-opening of Ovingham Bridge.

Northumberland County Council has confirmed it aims to re-open the bridge on Thursday, December 3.

A county council spokesman said: “Work is progressing on the bridge despite two serious storms which caused flood damage to the temporary scaffold, and some of the equipment used by the project team. We are confident that this has only caused a few days’ slippage.”

When the bridge was closed for refurbishment on June 30 last year, assurances were given that the 12 month closure would be more than enough time to complete the work. The latest projected completion date, before the weekend’s flooding, was some time in November.

However numerous delays, put down to unexpected problems uncovered beneath the paintwork, have pushed the project five months behind schedule.

An independent review, investigating the efficiency of the work has been commissioned by the local authority.

Recently, the county council has been issuing assurances that work will be finished be the end of November.

But last weekend’s deluge has put paid to that deadline.

The River Tyne rose to such heights that the temporary scaffolding around the bridge was put out of use.

The damage cut down ‘available working time’ for the team although there was no damage to the bridge itself.

Equipment at the contractor’s working compounds on the Prudhoe side of the river were also flood damaged.

The county council said it is unable to give a figure for the cost of the flood damage as officers have yet to determine the extent of the damage.